Letter: Councillors are punching bags
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Ward 32 councillor Marius de Vos writes:
I would like to respond in my capacity as ward councillor to the letter to the editor dated June 8, 2022, written by Shaun Carter.
I am dismayed at the level of his understanding of the doctrine of governance in South Africa. PRASA is not a local government competency.
During the first hard lockdown in 2020 when the rail network got vandalised and stripped of copper cables for scrap metal, it was ward councillors who alerted the uncaring metro rail authorities. Evidence of our intervention is well documented and archived in media houses, including Caxton media house.
In my view ward councillors have become punching bags for non-service delivery by handsomely paid officials – not only in local government but provincial and national government.
Residents and customers have started to confuse councillors with officials, which is a clear sign of a failing administration in all spheres of government.
In respect of the state of the environment around Boksburg CBD and the entire metro, it is the responsibility of the municipality to keep the environment clean.
The migration of people from the SADEC-region and other provinces in South Africa into the CBD of Boksburg has also contributed to the challenges the waste management depot currently is grappling with to keep the CBD clean. The CBD has become a residential area.
Nevertheless, efforts to get things done to this effect have been put into place and soon the city will be kept clean. We have an experienced and hands-on MMC for Environment Development and Waste Management, Andre Du Plessis, who is determined to instil a sense of cleanliness and regular waste removal services across the city.
Last but not least, it is cynical of Shaun Carter to allege that ward councillors are only begging for votes before an election and disappear after being elected.
It is ward councillors who have become call centres when Shaun Carter has a problem loading electricity on his meter. (letter edited).
